CALGARY — Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says farmers will be consulted as Ottawa works toward a national climate change strategy.
However, he couldn’t say if farmers will get any special treatment or exemptions if a national carbon tax is implemented.
“I’m not ruling out or ruling in anything,” MacAulay said at a news conference to wrap up the annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in Calgary.
“It’s discussions that have to take place with the sectors and the governments.”
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Environment and climate change policy is a key priority for the Liberal government, and ministers discussed its importance during the meeting. According to the communique, they talked about the need for science-based policies that “facilitate clean growth while achieving progress on environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
The ministers agreed to renew efforts on environmental sustain-ability and to help advance agri-environmental priorities.
MacAulay said the industry has already played a role in climate change and environmental strategy and will do so in the future.
“I know that farmers are very keen and pleased to be involved,” he said.
Agriculture has been called out as an emitter, but national farm groups have noted the industry’s role in sequestering carbon through practices such as no-till seeding.
Canadian research has found that the cattle sector cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent from 1981 to 2011, research that MacAulay noted during the news conference while pointing to measures agriculture has already taken.
Alberta Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier said if Ottawa moves forward with a national carbon tax, it would mesh with his province’s Climate Leadership Plan an-nounced earlier this year.
The province’s carbon tax, set to take effect next January, will exempt tax on fuel for farm use. British Columbia’s program does the same. Saskatchewan has staunchly opposed a carbon tax.
Carlier said more research in climate change mitigation is a priority and he would like to see funding for that incorporated into the next agricultural policy framework.
The Calgary Statement outlining what the next framework will broadly contain notes it will support efforts that help the sector mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
